APRIL BOOKS

1.The Fall of Five (Lorien Legacies) by Pittacus Lore / YA / ****

This is the fourth book of the Lorien Legacies.  The existing members of the Garde are reunited, and it appears that the last member (Five) has been located.  This book alternates between finding and figuring out FIVE and getting everyone ready for the final confrontation with the Mogadorian.  Booklist summarizes it here, describing the books has having "insanely brave teens, überevil Mogadorian alien invaders, various mystical gadgets, a dash of romantic tension, and lots and lots of explosions".

 2. 

Salvage the Bones: A Novel by Jesmyn Ward / A / ***

This book is advertised as being about a family caught up in Hurricane Katrina, but to me it was about family, rural poverty, and loyalty. 

 4.

Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala  / A / **

 

This is a story of another family in another tragedy... this time a tsunami that hit the coast of Sri Lanka in 2004. I was pulled in immediately to the story of the first moments when the water came to shore.  The author tells of how she abandoned her elderly parents... was swept away from her husband... and ultimately lost her entire family.  She vividly shares her almost visceral feelings of hopelessness and desperation.

After the first intriguing moments of the book the story became a disorienting journey as the author tried to find herself in her life after the tragedy.  It should have been compelling but it just wasn't. 

5. 

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt / YA / ***

I got such a kick out of this book.  It had many laugh - out - loud moments.

This is from Amazon: "When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off boys. She also swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to "go vintage" and return to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn't cheat on you online). She sets out to complete grandma's list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. "

6. 

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith / YA / ****

From BOOLIST: "When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?"
Okay I will be the first to admit that this book sounds totally CHEESY. I would not have picked this up on my own. It was loaned to me by a friend and I ended up LOVING IT. It was totally sweet and cute.  Absolutely delightful.

7.

I'll Be Seeing You by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan / ****

It is 1940's America.  Two women begin writing to each other through a 4-H address exchange for war wives.  One is a young mother who went from debutante to war bride.  The others is a grown woman with both her husband her son serving. 

The correspondence is charming and gives a detailed picture of what it was like here in America during WWII.  It is a story of friendship and the solidarity of women.

 

8.

The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman / A / *****

I remember seeing this movie when I was in probably 8th grade. It was a cult classic at my Jr High School with everyone quoting lines of dialogue.  A friend loaned me the actual book and I was hooked. This satirical delight is literally one hundred times better than the movie.  It is one I've read over and over again.  It's genius.